Correlating the structure and reactivity of a contact allergen, DNCB, and its analogs to sensitization potential.

We report a study that seeks to find a correlation between the overall sensitization potential quantified by the expression of IL-8 by stimulated monocytes and the chemical structure of a model contact allergen, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). We show that structure and reactivity of the chemical compounds play an important role in activation of the monocytes and subsequent inflammation in tissue. However, we observed a non-linear correlation between the rate of reaction and biological activity indicating a required balance of stability and reactivity.